Road conditions update from ODOT

Road Conditions Update 2-26-13 – 11 a.m.

There are many highway closures in northwestern Oklahoma and big improvements are expected to be made throughout the day. Crews are out in Cimarron, Texas, Woods, Alfalfa and Major counties, and they are reporting slick and hazardous roadways and are treating roads and plowing as needed.

The following highways are now closed as of this morning:

• Garfield/Alfalfa Counties: SH-45 is closed between the Garfield county line and SH-8 in Alfalfa County.
• Alfalfa Co: US-64 is closed in Alfalfa Co.
• Alfalfa Co: SH-11 is closed in Alfalfa Co.
• Noble Co: SH-15 is closed between US-77 and I-35 in Noble County.
• Harper Co: Northbound US-283 is closed between US-64 in Harper County and Englewood, Kansas.
• Texas Co: US-412 east of Guymon in Texas County.
• Beaver Co: All highways closed.
• Harper Co: All highways closed.
• Ellis Co: All highways closed.
• Woodward Co: All highways closed.

In western Oklahoma, roadways are slick and hazardous. Crews are sanding and salting areas and clearing roadways as needed. Crews expect to make vast improvements throughout the day. Travel there is also strongly discouraged at this time.

Although the storm has subsided, travel is still strongly discouraged in areas that were hardest hit.

Roadways are mostly clear in north central Oklahoma. Garfield and Canadian counties still have crews out clearing roadways.

I-40 is closed from the Texas/Oklahoma state line west to Albuquerque, N.M. due to blowing snow and large drifts.

There may be some slick spots remaining in Craig and Osage counties, but roads are mostly wet and drying in northeast Oklahoma.

Thirty counties received heavy snow, some up to 20 inches. Approximately 500 - 600 ODOT Personnel have been working 24/7 to clear the roads. Crews have been shifted from unaffected parts of the state to help out in the harder hit areas. With some sunshine and temperatures above freezing, much progress is expected to be made throughout the day, but drivers should be cautious about refreezing in the overnight hours.

There are 550 trucks available statewide, including 60 in the Oklahoma City metro area and more than 40 in the Tulsa metro area. Sand and salt sheds are stocked and crews are ready to respond to conditions.

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